With a close vote expected Tuesday, Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois plan to oppose the nomination of Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos for U.S. education secretary.

DeVos is a major Republican donor and longtime advocate of school choice who is married to an heir to the Amway marketing fortune.

Durbin called DeVos "unqualified" and said the U.S. needs an education chief who will stand up for students, educators and schools, not corporate and for-profit interests.

He announced his opposition on Saturday at the Illinois Education Association headquarters in Springfield.

Duckworth stated her opposition to DeVos last week in a statement in which she singled out DeVos' "ignorance" of civil-rights protections, eagerness to redirect money away from public schools and lack of experience in education.

Duckworth said DeVos came up short in her commitment to public education and her understanding of civil-rights laws.

An Iraq war amputee, Duckworth said she would not be where she was without a quality public education and protections such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

DeVos drew fire during her confirmation hearing for saying it was best left to states to decide whether to follow the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or IDEA, which protects disabled students.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he knows Elaine Chao, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of transportation, and is likely to support her confirmation. He's also heard good things about retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, Trump's pick for secretary of defense.But in general, the senior...